Hazing, Greek Life, and Legal Rights: A Comprehensive Guide for Village of Tiki Island Families in Galveston County

If Your Child is in Danger Right Now: Call 911, Then Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)

We understand that discovering your child has been hazed or abused in a fraternity, sorority, athletic program, or campus organization is every Texas parent’s worst nightmare. The confusion, anger, and fear are overwhelming. You are not alone. Right now, just a short drive from our Island community in Galveston County, our firm is fighting one of the most serious hazing cases in Texas history.

Our current flagship case involves Leonel Bermudez, a University of Houston student who was subjected to brutal hazing by the Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu chapter. The allegations are detailed in a $10 million lawsuit filed in Harris County and covered extensively by Houston media. Reports from Click2Houston and ABC13 describe harrowing acts: a “pledge fanny pack” filled with humiliating items, forced consumption of milk and hot dogs until vomiting, being sprayed in the face with a hose “similar to waterboarding,” and extreme workouts at Yellowstone Boulevard Park. This culminated in Bermudez developing rhabdomyolysis—a severe muscle breakdown condition—and acute kidney failure, requiring four days of hospitalization with brown urine and critically high creatine kinase levels.

This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a dangerous pattern affecting families across Texas, including right here in our Galveston County community. As parents in the Village of Tiki Island, you deserve to know the truth about what happens behind closed fraternity doors, what legal rights protect your children, and how to hold powerful institutions accountable when they fail to protect students.

This comprehensive guide is written specifically for Tiki Island families and all Texas parents whose children participate in Greek life, Corps programs, athletics, or campus organizations. We will walk you through what hazing really looks like in 2025, the Texas and federal laws that govern it, the sobering national case histories, what’s happening at Texas universities our children attend, and the practical steps you can take if hazing touches your family.

The Leonel Bermudez Case: Why This Matters for Tiki Island Families

Before we explore the broader landscape, let’s understand why this specific case hits so close to home for our Galveston County community. The University of Houston is just 50 miles from Tiki Island—well within the radius where many of our students attend college. The patterns revealed in this case exist across the Texas Greek system.

The Timeline of Trauma:
Leonel Bermudez accepted a bid from Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Nu chapter in September 2025. What followed was months of systematic abuse documented in court filings and media reports:

• Forced servitude: Mandatory overnight chauffeuring duties, strict dress codes, and hours-long “study blocks”
• Psychological humiliation: Required to carry a “pledge fanny pack” 24/7 containing condoms, sex toys, nicotine devices, and other degrading items
• Physical torture: Extreme workouts including 100+ push-ups and 500 squats under threat of expulsion, bear crawls, wheelbarrow races, “save-your-brother” drills
• Sadistic rituals: Being sprayed in the face with a hose with threats of actual waterboarding, forced to lie in vomit-soaked grass, another pledge hog-tied face-down on a table with an object in his mouth for over an hour
• Medical catastrophe: After the November 3 workout, Bermudez could not stand without help. Days later, he passed brown urine—a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis—and was hospitalized for four days with acute kidney failure

Who We’re Fighting:
Our lawsuit names 17 defendants, including:

• The University of Houston and UH System Board of Regents
• Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters
• The Pi Kappa Phi Beta Nu housing corporation
• 13 individual fraternity leaders (chapter president, pledgemaster, sorority relations chair, risk manager, and others)

Institutional Response:
After reports surfaced, Pi Kappa Phi national headquarters suspended the Beta Nu chapter on November 6, 2025. Chapter members voted to surrender their charter on November 14—effectively shutting down the chapter. The University of Houston called the alleged conduct “deeply disturbing” and promised disciplinary measures up to expulsion and cooperation with law enforcement.

This case demonstrates precisely what we face when taking on powerful institutions. It also shows why timely, experienced legal intervention matters. Evidence disappears quickly—group chats get deleted, witnesses get coached, universities control narratives. That’s why we urge Tiki Island families to act quickly if they suspect hazing.

The Texas Greek Ecosystem: What Tiki Island Parents Need to Know

As a waterfront community in Galveston County, Tiki Island families have unique connections to Texas universities. Our students attend everything from nearby Galveston College and Texas A&M University at Galveston to major hubs like the University of Houston, Texas A&M College Station, UT Austin, and beyond. Each of these campuses hosts dozens of fraternities and sororities with complex organizational structures.

Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine: Our Investigative Advantage

To properly represent hazing victims, we maintain what we call our “Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine”—a comprehensive database of Greek organizations across the state. This isn’t just informational; it’s investigative power. When we take a case, we already know where to look for liable entities, insurance coverage, and prior patterns.

The Houston Metro Area Greek Landscape:
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area, which includes Galveston County and our Tiki Island community, contains 188 Greek-related organizations according to Cause IQ data. These aren’t just undergraduate chapters—they include house corporations, alumni chapters, honor societies, and professional organizations that collectively wield significant influence and financial resources.

Public Records Directory: Texas Greek Organizations Serving Galveston County Families

If you are a Tiki Island parent, you deserve to know who really stands behind the Greek organizations connected to your child. Below are examples of Texas-registered Greek organizations from public filings that illustrate the complex network behind campus letters:

Gamma Phi Beta Sorority Inc – EIN 161675890 – The Woodlands, TX 77382 – IRS B83 filing
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Epsilon Kappa Chapter Alumni – EIN 746064445 – Nederland, TX 77627 – IRS B83 filing
Texas District of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (alumni/house corp.)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Houston Alumnae – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (graduate chapter)
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – Beta Sigma Chapter – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (undergrad chapter)
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Alpha Kappa Omega – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (grad chapter)
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity – Eta Rho Sigma – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (grad chapter)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Theta Chi Chapter – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing (grad chapter)
Alpha Phi Omega – Bayou City Alumni – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing
Delta Kappa Gamma Society – TX Lambda Chapter – Houston, TX – Cause IQ metro listing
Beta Nu Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation Inc – EIN 462267515 – Frisco, TX 75035 – IRS B83 filing
Sigma Phi Epsilon New York Chi Alumni Association Inc – EIN 262710856 – Houston, TX 77007 – IRS B83 filing
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 364091267 – Waco, TX 76710 – IRS B83 filing
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – EIN 752609909 – Commerce, TX 75428 – IRS B83 filing
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated – Sigma Gamma Chapter – EIN 392352450 – Houston, TX 77254 – IRS B83 filing
Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity Inc – EIN 800209640 – Houston, TX 77248 – IRS B83 filing
Hellenic Professional Society of Texas – EIN 742020182 – Houston, TX 77266 – IRS B83 filing
Beta Lambda Chapter – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc – EIN 990483761 – Houston, TX 77084 – IRS B83 filing
Southwestern Region of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Incorporated – EIN 510194762 – Houston, TX 77086 – IRS B83 filing
Sigma Chi Fraternity Epsilon Xi Chapter – EIN 746084905 – Houston, TX 77204 – IRS B83 filing

Why This Directory Matters for Your Case:
These organizations represent potential avenues for accountability and insurance coverage. When hazing occurs, multiple entities may share liability: the undergraduate chapter, the housing corporation that owns the property, the alumni organization that oversees activities, and the national headquarters that sets policies. Our database helps us identify every responsible party quickly—something families should not have to do alone during a crisis.

Where Tiki Island Families Send Their Children: Campus Connections

Our Galveston County community has diverse educational connections. While some students stay local, many venture to major universities across Texas. Understanding the Greek landscape at these schools is crucial for prevention and response.

University of Houston – Main Campus (50 miles from Tiki Island)

As demonstrated in the Bermudez case, UH hosts active Greek life with multiple councils:

• Interfraternity Council (IFC): Includes Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and others
• Houston Panhellenic Council: Alpha Chi Omega, Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, Zeta Tau Alpha
• National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine): All nine historically Black organizations have chapters
• Multicultural Greek Council: Various cultural fraternities and sororities

Recent History: Beyond the Pi Kappa Phi case, UH has disciplined multiple organizations for hazing violations. The university maintains disciplinary records that can be critical in establishing patterns of known dangerous behavior.

Texas A&M University at Galveston (20 miles from Tiki Island)

While smaller than the College Station campus, TAMUG has its own Greek life and connections to the larger Texas A&M system. More importantly, many Tiki Island students attend the main campus in College Station, which has faced significant hazing issues in both Greek life and the Corps of Cadets.

Texas A&M University – College Station (140 miles from Tiki Island)

This flagship campus presents particular concerns:

• Corps of Cadets: Multiple lawsuits alleging degrading hazing, including a 2023 case where a cadet alleged being bound between beds in a “roasted pig” position with an apple in his mouth
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Lawsuit: Around 2021, pledges alleged being covered in substances including industrial-strength cleaner, causing severe chemical burns requiring skin grafts
• Active Greek System: Dozens of IFC and Panhellenic chapters with national histories of hazing incidents

University of Texas at Austin (180 miles from Tiki Island)

UT maintains one of Texas’s most transparent hazing violation databases, listing organizations, conduct, and sanctions publicly. Recent entries include:

• Pi Kappa Alpha (2023): New members directed to consume milk and perform strenuous calisthenics
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2024): Australian exchange student alleged assault resulting in dislocated leg, broken ligaments, fractured tibia, and broken nose
• Multiple spirit groups: Sanctioned for forced workouts and alcohol-related hazing

Other Relevant Campuses:

• Galveston College: Local two-year institution
• University of Houston-Clear Lake: Nearby commuter campus
• Various Texas schools: Wherever Tiki Island students enroll, Greek life risks exist

Texas Hazing Law: What Galveston County Families Need to Know

Texas has specific laws governing hazing, primarily found in the Education Code Chapter 37. Understanding these statutes is crucial for knowing your rights.

Texas Education Code §37.151: Definition of Hazing

Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, on or off campus, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, initiation, affiliation, holding office, or maintaining membership in any organization that:

• Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student

Key Points for Parents:

1. Location Doesn’t Matter: Hazing at off-campus houses, retreats, or events still qualifies
2. Mental OR Physical Harm: Psychological trauma counts alongside physical injury
3. “Reckless” is Enough: Defendants don’t need malicious intent—just reckless disregard for safety
4. Broad Application: Applies to fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, Corps programs, bands, and other student groups

Texas Education Code §37.152: Criminal Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor: Hazing that doesn’t cause serious injury (up to 180 days jail, $2,000 fine)
• Class A Misdemeanor: Hazing causing injury requiring medical treatment
• State Jail Felony: Hazing causing serious bodily injury or death

Texas Education Code §37.155: Consent is NOT a Defense

This is perhaps the most important provision for families to understand: “It is not a defense to prosecution that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.”

Your child cannot “agree” to be hazed in any meaningful legal sense when power imbalance, peer pressure, and fear of exclusion exist. This statute directly rebuts the common defense of “they wanted to do it.”

Organizational Liability (§37.153)

Fraternities, sororities, and other organizations can be criminally prosecuted and fined up to $10,000 per violation if they authorized or encouraged hazing, or if officers knew and failed to report it.

Good-Faith Reporter Immunity (§37.154)

Individuals who report hazing in good faith to university officials or law enforcement are immune from civil or criminal liability. This protection is crucial for encouraging bystanders to come forward.

National Hazing Patterns: History Repeating at Texas Schools

The hazing your child experiences likely follows established patterns seen nationwide. Understanding these histories helps prove that organizations should have known better.

Alcohol Poisoning Death Pattern

• Stone Foltz – Bowling Green (Pi Kappa Alpha, 2021): Forced to drink entire bottle of alcohol; $10 million settlement ($7M from national, $3M from university)
• Timothy Piazza – Penn State (Beta Theta Pi, 2017): Bid acceptance drinking, delayed medical care; Pennsylvania passed Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law
• Max Gruver – LSU (Phi Delta Theta, 2017): “Bible study” drinking game; Louisiana passed Max Gruver Act making hazing a felony
• Andrew Coffey – Florida State (Pi Kappa Phi, 2017): Big/little event with handle of liquor; chapter closed

Physical and Ritualized Hazing

• Chun “Michael” Deng – Baruch College (Pi Delta Psi, 2013): Blindfolded “glass ceiling” ritual at retreat; fatal head injuries; national fraternity banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years
• Collin Wiant – Ohio University (Sigma Pi, 2018): Death following hazing-related drug use; led to “Collin’s Law” in Ohio

Catastrophic Non-Fatal Injuries

• Danny Santulli – Missouri (Phi Gamma Delta, 2021): Forced drinking led to permanent brain damage; cannot walk, talk, or see; requires 24/7 care; settlements with 22 defendants
• Texas A&M SAE Case (2021): Chemical burns from industrial cleaner requiring skin grafts

Why These Histories Matter for Your Texas Case:
When national organizations like Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or Pi Kappa Phi have multiple chapters involved in similar hazing incidents across the country, it demonstrates foreseeability. They knew or should have known their rituals were dangerous. This pattern evidence strengthens negligence claims and can support punitive damages.

Building a Hazing Case: Evidence, Strategy, and Realistic Expectations

If hazing has impacted your family, understanding the legal process can reduce anxiety and help you make informed decisions.

Critical Evidence That Wins Cases

Modern hazing cases are won with digital evidence and thorough documentation:

1. Digital Communications (PRESERVE IMMEDIATELY):

• GroupMe, WhatsApp, iMessage group texts
• Discord servers, Slack workspaces, fraternity-specific apps
• Instagram DMs, Snapchat messages (screenshot before they disappear)
• Emails between members about events or traditions

2. Photo and Video Evidence:

• Photos of injuries (multiple angles, with scale like a coin or ruler)
• Videos from events shared in group chats
• Social media posts showing activities
• Security camera or Ring doorbell footage

3. Medical Documentation:

• ER records, hospitalization reports, ambulance reports
• Lab results (blood alcohol, toxicology, kidney function)
• Specialist evaluations for ongoing conditions
• Mental health records for PTSD, depression, anxiety

4. Organizational Records (Obtained via Discovery):

• Chapter meeting minutes
• Pledge education materials
• Risk management manuals
• Communications with national headquarters

5. University Records:

• Prior disciplinary actions against the organization
• Incident reports to campus police
• Clery Act reports showing patterns

We have a detailed video explaining how to use your phone to document evidence that every family should watch.

Damages: What Families Can Recover

Hazing cases seek compensation for several categories of harm:

Economic Damages (Quantifiable Losses):

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost educational opportunities (withdrawn semesters, lost scholarships)
• Diminished earning capacity (for permanent injuries)
• Therapy and rehabilitation costs

Non-Economic Damages:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, trauma, humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Damage to family relationships

Wrongful Death Damages (When Tragedy Strikes):

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship, love, and guidance
• Parents’ and siblings’ emotional suffering

Punitive Damages (When Conduct is Egregious):

• To punish especially reckless or malicious behavior
• To deter future hazing
• Available when defendants had prior warnings and ignored them

The Defendants: Who Can Be Held Accountable

Hazing cases typically involve multiple defendants:

1. Individual Students: Those who planned, executed, or covered up hazing
2. Chapter Officers: Presidents, pledge educators, risk managers who had duty to prevent harm
3. Local Chapter/Housing Corporation: The Texas-registered entity that owns property and runs operations
4. National Headquarters: Sets policies, collects dues, oversees chapters
5. Universities: When they knew or should have known about dangerous patterns
6. Property Owners: Landlords of off-campus houses where hazing occurs
7. Third Parties: Bars that overserve, security companies that fail to protect

Insurance Coverage Complexities

Fraternity and university insurance companies often fight coverage using several arguments:

• “Hazing is an intentional act excluded from coverage”
• “The policy doesn’t cover off-campus events”
• “This was rogue individual conduct, not organizational”

This is where our insurance insider experience proves invaluable. Mr. Lupe Peña spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how insurers value claims, set reserves, and deploy delay tactics. We understand coverage arguments and how to overcome them.

Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Hazing Case

Based on our experience with multiple hazing cases, families often make these errors that compromise their legal position:

1. Letting Your Child Delete Messages

• What happens: “I don’t want this embarrassing stuff saved”
• Why it’s devastating: Looks like evidence destruction; can be obstruction of justice; makes proving case nearly impossible
• Better approach: Preserve EVERYTHING immediately. Screenshot group chats, back up to cloud storage, do not delete anything

2. Confronting the Fraternity Directly

• What happens: “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind”
• Why it’s devastating: They immediately lawyer up, destroy evidence, coach witnesses, prepare defenses
• Better approach: Document everything silently, then call an attorney before any confrontation

3. Signing University “Resolution” Forms

• What happens: University pressures you to sign waivers or “internal resolution” agreements
• Why it’s devastating: You may waive right to sue; settlements are often far below case value
• Better approach: Do NOT sign anything without attorney review. Universities protect themselves first

4. Posting Details on Social Media

• What happens: “I want people to know what happened”
• Why it’s devastating: Defense attorneys screenshot everything; inconsistencies hurt credibility; can waive privileges
• Better approach: Document privately; let your attorney control public messaging

5. Waiting “to See How the University Handles It”

• What happens: “They promised an investigation”
• Why it’s devastating: Evidence disappears, witnesses graduate, statute runs, university controls narrative
• Better approach: Preserve evidence NOW; consult attorney immediately; university process ≠ real accountability

We discuss these mistakes in detail in our video on client errors that can ruin your case.

Practical Guide for Tiki Island Parents: What to Do Right Now

If You Suspect Hazing Is Happening:

Warning Signs to Watch For:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, or burns
• Extreme fatigue beyond normal college stress
• Sudden secrecy about organization activities
• Personality changes: anxiety, depression, withdrawal
• Constant phone monitoring for group chat messages
• Financial requests for unexplained “fines” or purchases
• Academic decline from missed classes or exhaustion

How to Talk to Your Child:

1. Choose a private, calm setting
2. Use open questions: “How are things with [organization]?” not “Are they hazing you?”
3. Listen without judgment if they open up
4. Emphasize safety over loyalty: “Your health matters more than any group”
5. Assure them you’ll support whatever decision they make

If Hazing Has Already Occurred:

48-Hour Action Checklist:

Hours 1-6 (Immediate Crisis):
✅ Medical: If injured or intoxicated, get to ER immediately
✅ Safety: Remove from dangerous situation
✅ Evidence: Screenshot any messages shown to you; photograph injuries
✅ Notes: Write down everything they tell you (date, time, what happened, who was there)
✅ Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911 for immediate legal guidance

Hours 6-24 (Evidence Preservation):
✅ Digital: Help preserve all group chats, DMs, texts (do NOT delete anything)
✅ Physical: Secure clothing, receipts, objects used in hazing
✅ Medical Records: Request copies of all ER/hospital documentation
✅ Witnesses: Write down names and contact info for other pledges/bystanders
✅ University: Note any communications from school but do NOT respond yet

Hours 24-48 (Strategic Decisions):
✅ Legal Consultation: Speak with experienced hazing attorney
✅ Reporting Decision: With lawyer’s guidance, decide whether to report to campus/local police
✅ University Response: If school contacts you, refer them to your attorney
✅ Insurance: Do NOT talk to any insurance adjuster without lawyer present
✅ Evidence Backup: Upload all screenshots and photos to cloud storage

Reporting Options for Galveston County Families:

On Campus:

• Dean of Students Office
• Office of Student Conduct
• Campus Police Department
• Title IX Coordinator (if sexual harassment involved)

Local Authorities:

• Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
• City police where incident occurred
• Texas Rangers (for serious felony cases)

Anonymous Reporting:

• National Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE (668-4293)
• University anonymous tip lines
• Texas Crime Stoppers

Frequently Asked Questions from Texas Families

“Can we sue a university for hazing in Texas?”
Yes, under specific circumstances. Public universities like UH and Texas A&M have some sovereign immunity protections, but exceptions exist for gross negligence, Title IX violations, and when suing individuals in their personal capacity. Private universities like SMU and Baylor have fewer immunity protections. Every case is fact-specific—that’s why immediate legal consultation is crucial.

“Is hazing a felony in Texas?”
It can be. Texas law makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor by default, but it becomes a state jail felony if the hazing causes serious bodily injury or death. Individual officers can also face charges for failing to report known hazing.

“What if my child ‘agreed’ to the initiation?”
Texas Education Code §37.155 explicitly states: “Consent is not a defense.” Courts recognize that “consent” under peer pressure, power imbalance, and fear of exclusion is not true voluntary consent. This statutory protection is one of Texas’s strongest anti-hazing provisions.

“How long do we have to file a lawsuit?”
Generally 2 years from the date of injury or death in Texas, but exceptions exist. The “discovery rule” may extend time if the harm wasn’t immediately known. In cases involving cover-ups or fraud, the statute may be tolled (paused). However, time is critical—evidence disappears quickly, and early investigation is essential. Watch our video on Texas statutes of limitations for more details.

“What if it happened off-campus at a private house?”
Location doesn’t eliminate liability. Universities and national fraternities can still be liable based on sponsorship, control, knowledge, and foreseeability. Many major hazing cases (Pi Delta Psi retreat, Sigma Pi unofficial house) occurred off-campus and still resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments.

“Will this be confidential?”
Most hazing cases settle confidentially before trial. We prioritize your family’s privacy while pursuing accountability. You can request sealed court records and confidential settlement terms. Public trials are rare but sometimes necessary for maximum accountability.

“How much will this cost?”
We work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, including hazing litigation. This means you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees. We only get paid if we win your case through settlement or trial verdict. Learn more in our video explaining how contingency fees work.

Why Attorney911 for Tiki Island Hazing Cases

When your family faces a hazing crisis, you need more than a general personal injury lawyer. You need attorneys who understand how powerful institutions fight back—and how to win anyway.

Our Unique Qualifications for Hazing Litigation:

1. Insurance Insider Advantage (Mr. Lupe Peña):
Mr. Peña (he/him) spent years as an insurance defense attorney at a national firm. He knows exactly how fraternity and university insurance companies:

• Value (and undervalue) hazing claims
• Use delay tactics to pressure families
• Argue coverage exclusions for “intentional acts”
• Set reserves and negotiate settlements

As he says: “We know their playbook because we used to run it.” This insider knowledge is invaluable when navigating complex insurance coverage disputes.

2. Complex Institutional Litigation Experience (Ralph Manginello):

• BP Texas City Explosion Litigation: One of few Texas firms involved against billion-dollar defendants
• Federal Court Experience: Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• 25+ Years Practice: Handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases
• Not Intimidated: We’ve faced massive corporations and won. National fraternities and universities don’t scare us.

3. Multi-Million Dollar Results:
From workplace brain injuries to wrongful death cases, we have recovered millions for clients. We don’t settle cheap. We build cases that force accountability and adequate compensation.

4. Criminal + Civil Hazing Expertise:

• Ralph’s membership in Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
• Understanding how criminal hazing charges interact with civil litigation
• Ability to advise witnesses and former members with dual exposure

5. Investigative Depth and Resources:

• Network of experts: medical specialists, digital forensics, economists, psychologists
• Experience obtaining hidden evidence (deleted group chats, chapter records, university files)
• Texas Hazing Intelligence Engine with 1,423 Greek organizations tracked across 25 metros
• “We investigate like your child’s life depends on it—because it does.”

6. Spanish Language Services:
Hablamos Español. Mr. Peña speaks fluent Spanish and can serve Hispanic families throughout Texas.

Our Current Texas Hazing Litigation:

Right now, we’re actively litigating the Leonel Bermudez case against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi. This isn’t historical—it’s current, high-stakes litigation proving our commitment to holding powerful institutions accountable. When we tell you we understand hazing cases, we’re living it daily.

Texas-Based, Nationally Relevant:

While based in Houston with offices in Austin and Beaumont, we serve families throughout Texas, including our Galveston County community. Hazing patterns don’t respect county lines—the same national organizations, insurance companies, and defense tactics exist whether your child attends UH, Texas A&M, UT, or any Texas campus.

Your Next Steps: Contact Us for a Confidential Consultation

If hazing has impacted your family, we encourage you to take these steps today:

1. Preserve Evidence Immediately

• Screenshot group chats before they’re deleted
• Photograph injuries from multiple angles
• Write down everything while memory is fresh
• Save physical evidence (clothing, objects, receipts)

2. Seek Medical Attention

• Even if injuries seem minor, get professional evaluation
• Tell medical providers you were hazed for proper documentation
• Follow up with specialists for ongoing issues

3. Contact Attorney911 for Free Consultation
Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for:

• Confidential case evaluation
• Explanation of your legal options
• Guidance on evidence preservation
• Assessment of potential claims and defendants

What to Expect in Your Consultation:

• We’ll listen to your story without judgment
• Review any evidence you’ve preserved
• Explain Texas hazing laws and your rights
• Discuss realistic timelines and expectations
• Answer questions about costs (contingency fee – no fee unless we win)
• No pressure to hire us immediately

Contact Information for Tiki Island Families:

• 24/7 Emergency Line: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
• Direct Office: (713) 528-9070
• Cell: (713) 443-4781
• Website: https://attorney911.com
• Email: ralph@atty911.com (Ralph Manginello), lupe@atty911.com (Lupe Peña)
• Spanish Services: Hablamos Español – Contact Mr. Peña at lupe@atty911.com

We Serve All of Texas:
While our physical offices are in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we represent families throughout Texas, including Galveston County and the Village of Tiki Island. Distance doesn’t prevent us from providing thorough, aggressive representation.

Final Message to Tiki Island Families

Hazing thrives in silence and secrecy. It counts on families feeling ashamed, confused, or intimidated. It relies on universities protecting reputations and fraternities circling wagons.

But Texas law provides powerful tools for accountability. National precedents show institutions can be held responsible. And experienced legal counsel can navigate this complex terrain while protecting your family’s wellbeing.

The Leonel Bermudez case proves change is possible. Because one family spoke up, a dangerous chapter is closed, and systemic failures are being exposed. Your family could be the next to prevent future harm.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. You don’t have to accept institutional excuses. You have rights, and there are attorneys ready to fight for them.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. Let’s discuss your situation, your options, and how we can help your family find answers, accountability, and prevention.

Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Hazing laws, university policies, and legal precedents can change. The information in this guide is current as of late 2025 but may not reflect the most recent developments. Every hazing case is unique, and outcomes depend on specific facts, evidence, applicable law, and many other factors. If you or your child has been affected by hazing, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified Texas attorney who can review your specific situation, explain your legal rights, and advise you on the best course of action for your family.

The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC / Attorney911
Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Call: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Direct: (713) 528-9070 | Cell: (713) 443-4781
Website: https://attorney911.com
Email: ralph@atty911.com